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Irish Family Name

O'Donnell

Ó Domhnaill — “descendant of Domhnall, 'world ruler'”
“In hoc signo vinces” · In this sign thou shalt conquer
Provincial colours of Ulster — this name has no clan tartan tradition and no single agreed coat of arms
Irish formÓ Domhnaill
Historic titleThe O'Donnell, Lord of Tír Chonaill; Earl of Tyrconnell
HeartlandTír Chonaill — Co. Donegal
RegionUlster

Lords of Tír Chonaill and rivals of the O'Neills for the leadership of Gaelic Ulster. Red Hugh O'Donnell escaped Dublin Castle to lead the Nine Years' War alongside O'Neill, and died in Spain in 1602.

Ancestral seats

  • Donegal Castle, Co. Donegal
  • Lifford, Co. Donegal

Where to walk in their footsteps

Access, opening hours and admission change. We confirm every site before it goes into an itinerary.

Donegal Castle, Donegal Town

O'Donnell tower house beside the Eske, restored and open to visitors.

Kilbarron Castle, Ballyshannon

Clifftop ruin linked to the Ó Cléirigh historians of the O'Donnells; coastal-walk viewing only, no facilities.

Also recorded as

DonnellDonaldO'Donel

Travelling to O'Donnell country

Cashel Travel has arranged clan gatherings and heritage tours across Scotland and Ireland since the 1990s, including full gatherings for Clan Gordon, Hay, Keith, Lindsay, Hunter, Dunbar, Graham, Sutherland and MacLaren. We research the family history, build the itinerary around it, and arrange access to places that are not normally open to the public.

Plan a heritage tour